Expansible chamber fluid motor with piston actuated valve and pressure absorbing flexible envelope in cylinder



Aug. 17, 1948. R. BURT 2,447,311

EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER FLUID MOT QR WITH PISTON ACTUATED VALVE AND PRESSURE ABSORBING FLEXIBLE ENVELOPE IN CYLINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 15, 1943 In I kmN 3m entor RA L PH BUR 7' Clttomeg Aug. 17, 1948. T

EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER FLUID MOTOR WITH PISTON ACTUATED VALVE AND PRESSURE ABSORBING FLEXIBLE ENVELOPE IN CYLINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1945 RALPH BURT 3nventor (Ittorneg Patented Aug. 17, 1948 I CHAMBER FLUID Moron"? PISTON ACTUATED .vAL-vE PRESS E LOPE IN *GYLI'NDER Ralph-Burt,-Hcmer City, Pa.;gassignor to -Syntrn;

(lompanm flomer City, Pa. ,-i. a corporat ion-of- Delaware Ansonsmermx-mwsave:-

The present" invention relates'to fluid. operatedvibratory trough conveyors andis a' continuation: in: part-of the application filedwMav; 23,; 1941; which issued as-Patent No.---2,3 78;9 79-on June :26? 1945.

It 4 heretofore has; been? proposed! to. operate vibratory conveyors by. unbalanced rotating weigh-ts; or: electromagnetic vibratory" motors: However; such devices have'the disadvantage that theperiod or frequency of vibration is; fixed and; when the point= of synchronism; I of the electromechanical forces isreaehed the-apparatus be' comes egc ceed-inglysensitive andserratic operation Such devices also can not readily bervibrated at a frequency. differing from that of the source of electric current Furthermoreith r6 are installations wherethe: use ot electricity. not'p erm'itted because =o-f fire onexplsio'nhazardi an'd accordinglir onlvlthelmeclianialli operated dvices' wi'tli-the attendant wear o'filearingsjand' disadvantages offlongipbwr transmission Isliaft'sf belts etcter'aToan'loeemployee." SucHQmchalIii cal device's h'ave'not; iii "general; ra 'ved*very;sati-' f'a'ctoiif'as they T'quii' ccnsi'deramemamtefianc'e" eXfiense and ne uefit'repa'"; H

Accordil'yjit isa'h object"ofthe'presem' v'e'nfi'on to provide a" new erateavmrae ry ccnveyer' ap aratus that may be'uirettlynperaten byfluidunder"' ressurei" Another object is the provisionof aflui'fi p erate'd vibratory-i conveyor apparatufl having-an adjustable stroke"'aiidah" aiijustableperiiid""of vibration. v

A furth'efo'bjfif is" me provismn' of a fluid operated vibratory" c nveyor apparatus capable of relatively high frequency of vibration and whieh'is compact: ofrelatively s'iinfile' c'onstruc tion',"airdcarr"beemployed idrheavv dutvif I Still anotherobject isth'e' provisionof 'a operated'vibratory motor-of simple construcmdn' c'ai'pableflof vibrating at? a high erequme a'nd wlficri is' positive in" oprati'orij- 'and i *rugg'ed enough tc be employed-"for a larQiz' vai-iety pf application's.

In accordanee w ith -t rsiit inventicn; 1 provida vibratory conveying -'-'apparatus having a chamkierin a-pressure respo'r-isi-veelement is? located} 'su'ch as; for example, a bellowsy or flexible diaphragm-i-arid isccnnected to a control vaive -through a nyieldab'l'ei orrrsilient: linkage whereby tI fe-controlvalve may move with snap action td controltheflperiod of vibrationiaand the am itude 'tofstlie strokevof the -pressure respon-i sivezfelements.

In z'orderrto. obtain? a -suffiientlyrhigh permd of' valv vibraticn' in a: compact structure, I prefer to employs natural or synthetic rubber' materials to providethe yieldable or resilient-linkage --between the:pressure g'responsive' elementand thecontrol Such materials havethe requisite stifiness and es-i-li'ency' so-that' a'linkage of this-type-is very;compact; The nvibration' of I the pressure responsive element orthe vibratory reaction of the: chambermem'ber itself" may. be employed for useful work by connecting: a conveyor; troughtheretof-a' relatively massive base beingconnected' to the other member-1 For eXampIa- -hemthepressure responsive element is connected-to a conveyortrough supported by inclined resilient supports and--the chamberis -connected to a -base mounted-on--resi1ientsupports, a vibratoryconveyor is; produced-which has man-y advantages overthe electricallye operated :pr 1 mechanically.- operated vibratory conveyors heretoiere employ.- ed in that, among: other things, 7 the amplitude of -vibration: and the I frequency ofvibration may be quick-w-adjustedqtocbtain the best conveying act-ion fon; therparticular materials being handled. Fusthermoreg thereds no danger oi-fire: or explosion' and such apparatus may be' used; safely in explosive: manufaciuiring-v or; inoilrefineries, in aluminumwmanufactura or-- inapowder'ed coal mq p r r' t a 1 Thlinventiqn will-lie descrihedin greater de tail: n thefollowing;specificationtaken in con"- nectionwith the accompanying drawing, wherein I l'iave sliown prefrre d 'ernbodiments ot the m vention'b'y way'ofexample, and wherein? n Figural is aside view oi alpre'fired'emlo'odi ment of thelinvn'tionl the-motor being shown in semen; v I V F'igureiz'is' a side view of a modification; and

igure-.3 'i'sl'a sectional 'view'oi "'the'ifiotorl'illus brat mfighre v r ReferrmgtoFigure 'l of "the 'dr'awingthe" motor comprises a cylindrical housih'gl' I 39fprovi'din'g a Valli 7e bliamb ef fllo and havir i giali ifilt I41 and an outlet bore l 42;". the" lattefkiein'g surrounded by? auvalve seat "sii'ri'ac' l 43; A cylindrical guide meinlderilfl lf is -secured tothe housing? l39 b'y screws? l4si'and has a central'bbr'e' M6" which meatless-seaside stern l lTattached to a' tapered valve member 1| is: The-"guide mem er 'is noun trbbidlatf'its ($1116.51; a'S ,in'dicated at" I 51 and" l 52 to .provitie a web 'i'5'3 thereb'etwe'en and a "mummy of bores I 54'b as's through-the "web I 5'3 t6' coni1ot bl's I51 and: I5: and thus 'allow'flow Of filll'd from-chamber! mane outltpipe l55' wh'en the valve is open.-

A =clevis 1 5t has =its end-11 SI 'thieaded into the welding, and passes through a plate I66 and diaphragm I61, and is screw threaded into block I68, a spacer tube I1I being interposed between sleeve I 6I and plate I66 so that diaphragm I61 is clamped between plate I66 and block'I68. The diaphragm is clamped at its periphery to housing I39 by a ring I69 and bolts I10 and there is thus provided the working or expansible chamber I40 on one side thereof.

A bar I12 is clamped to block I68 by a plate I13 and screws I14 and at its lower end carries a flexible strap I15 suitably secured thereto at one end by cap screws I16 and bolted to the base I11 at its other end by cap screws I18. The base I11 which preferably is massive, rests on vibratory-members I19 of suitable construction which are selected or tuned as hereinafter described. One end of a stiff flexible spring strap I8I is secured to the upper end of bar I12, the other end of the strap being fastened to the bottom of a conveyor trough I82, by the cap screws I83. The housing I39 is secured to the base I11 in any suitable manner (not shown).

The front end of the conveyor trough or table I82 is supported for vibration, preferably by inclined bar or leaf springs in such manner as to provide vertical and horizontal components of movement of the trough. As shown, the base I11 has two inclined flanges I85 to which are clamped two threaded hexagonal bars I86 by nuts I81. The'opposite ends of bars I 86 are reduced and threaded to receive spacer nuts I88 upon which rest spring clips I89 clamped between spacer nuts I88 and lock nuts I9'I. Horizontal bar or leaf springs I92 which rest in the spring clips are bifurcated at their ends to straddle the middle of the clip. An extension plate I93 i's bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the trough I82 and is clamped to the, springs I92 at their middle by a'clamp bar I94 and bolts I95. Thus, the springs- I92 support and guide the front end of the trough I82. The inlet line I42 may have a throttle valve I98 and a water pressure regulator I99 therein. I

The operation of the apparatus now will be described. Springs I92 exert 9, force on diaphragm I61 and on valve I48 tending to hold the valve closed on its seat, this force being transmitted through the conveyor trough I82, strap l8l, bar I12 and block I68 to the diaphragm, and through connectors I64, I-1I,sleeve I6I, grommet I62 and clevis' I56 to the valve I48. The area of diaphragm I61 is greater than the area of valve opening I 42, and a ratio between the limits of'about 10 to 1 and 13 to 1 has been found to be satisfactory, although this ratio may be varied somewhat on different fluid pressures, and other suitable ratios may be employed. The fluid, which may be a gas or liquid and which preferably is water under pressure, passes through pressure regulator I99 and throttling valve I98 and is admitted through inlet pipe I4I into. chamber I40 and also exerts a force on the valve I48 tending to maintain it closed and exerts a force on the left side of diaphragm I61 which tends to move the diaphragm to the right. As this force increases it exerts a compression stress on resilient bushing or grommet I62, and grommet I62 yields and allows a limited movement of the diaphragm. Continued movement of diaphragm I61 under the force of fluid pressure and continued compression of bushing I62 flnally overcomes the force of springs I92 and of the fluid against the valve I48 and moves the valve off its seat, thus opening outlet I42 to relieve the pressure in chamber I49. The opening of valve I48 also relieves the stress on bushing I62. The movement of the diaphragm is reversed as soon as the pressure in chamber I40 drops, due to the stored energy or bias of springs I92 transmitted to the diaphragm. I61 which move the diaphragm to the left, the resilient bushing I62 serving to allow the diaphragm to yieldingly follow the valve movement and also to eliminate fluttering or chattering of the valve and thus insures proper seating thereof. The bushing I62 thus allows the trough to complete its amplitude of vibration under the force of springs I92. The closing of valve I48 allows the pressure in chamber I40 to build up and again move the diaphragm to the right, to repeat the cycle of operation. The vibration of diaphragm I61 is transmited through block I63, bar I12, and strap I8I to the conveyor trough I82, the bar I12 being pivoted at its bottom by strap I15. The springs I92 cause the conveyor to have a vibratory movement with vertical and horizontal components and the straps I15 and I8l allow such movement without interfering with the operation of the diaphragm.

The frequency of vibration and length of stroke of diaphragm I61 depends on several factors including the natural periodicity of .leaf springs I92 and the mass of the conveyor trough, the

natural periodicity of resilient bushing I62, the

pressure of the fluid supplied to chamber I40, the rate of flow allowed by the throttle valve I98, and the relative areas of the diaphragm I61 and thevvalve opening I42. The apparatus will automatically adapt itself to the natural period of the system so that the heavier the load on the conveyor the less willbe the periodicity of the vibration and the greater the amplitude or stroke, and the lighter the load the higher will be the periodicity of the system and the shorter the stroke.

In the modification shown in Figures 2 and 3, wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals, the base I11 has a boss 2ill with.

its upper face machined flat and a flexible strap I15, preferably of spring steel, is clamped at one end betweenthe angle bracket 204 and the boss 20I by cap screws 205 or the like threaded into the boss. The valve casing I39 is secured to angle plate 205 by screws 206 or the like, and the diaphragm I61 is clamped to the casing I39 by the ring I69 and the bolts I10. The fiangedbacking member 200 has a bore 209 therein which receives a stud 2II threaded therein andpassing through diaphragm I61 into backing plate 208 whereby the diaphragm is clamped between the backingplate 208 and block I68. Backing plate 208 has a bore 2I3-in which islocated a washer 2I2 of natural or synthetic rubber material. A valve stem 2I4 has a plate 2I5 held against a shoulder thereon adjacent one end by the nut 2I.6, this plate being received" in the bore 2L3. A second washer 2I8 of solid resilient ma-.

terial is located on the opposite side of plate M5, and a metal plate 2I9 is secured tothe backing plate 208 by screws 22I or the like so that the amen;

platec z l 5-and valve stem; 21 llare resilientlyyandz firmly heldvbetween the: washers 2 l 2 -and" 218-:

. A clearance space isprovided around thein side .ofwashers 2 l 2- and .21 it to allow deformation t hereoftto. take place during operation of the apparatus,.anda-suitable clearance for plate H5- is allowed to preventbindingthereof in boreZit, and. the:-centralvbore 222 in plate 259 is large enough to allow lateral movement of stem without binding;

The valve stem 2M extends through a suitable hole 222 in plate 2M and at its opposite end carries a valve member 5% whiehmay be locked thereon between a lock nut 22d and a castellated or cup shaped'w'ing guide member 225'held thereon bytasscrew 226. A suitable inlet t ll is-pro vided .in .the-side..of..chamber. @353. for thezintroductioni ofzzworking ..fluid..under:. pressure,. and a recessor-well .22.l is.pr.ovided inzt-he chamber with which; their; outlet .i all communicates. seatim'emberi 228. of .suitabl-emat'erial hasa valve aperture IdZTiandataperedseat M3 surround.- ing-iithe apertureiwhichis. adapted to cooperate with: the tapered. portionv 2.29mi. the valve: member; ithe guide. .225. being lof. suchdimension as. to moyefreelyqthrough the-bore M2 and at the same timeiprevent excessive lateral movement of theivalyensoathat the. valve. properly seats onits downward'zstroke- A.cushion to eliminate water hammer is:-provided.by thehollowtubes or sealed flexible tenuelopesitland 2.32 enclosing a gas and surroundingcthe. plate zilfi, thetubes being made ofiicompres-sible material, .such as rubber, so as tmcushiontthe water hammer.

Ad fluidaoperated. expansiblei chamber; motor having a piston actuated operating valve as disclosed herein produces a very high and sharp peak pressure surge within the motor chamber at the instant the operating valve closes. in motors constructed under the present practice the energy of this peak pressure is lost and it frequently causes the operating valve to flutter and open before the piston stroke is completed. Such operating characteristics are eliminated. by the use of the sealed flexible envelopes 255i and 232 which, being subjected to this peak pressure, are compressed by the energy of the peak pressure surge, the energy being absorbed and stored therein and then subsequently released by their expansion to the fluid immediately following the sharp peak pressure surge thus providing a sustained and greater working pressure within the motor chamber. This transfer of energy from the fluid to the envelopes and return to the fluid increases the stroke and power of the motor and prevents fluttering or misoperation of the actuating valve.

The bar I12 is secured at its lower end to the strap I15. Angle bracket 2% has a post 235 threaded therein and held in place by lock nut 236 and which extends through a suitable hole 231 in bar 112. A spring 238 surrounds post 235 between washers 239 and 2M and a nut 242 on the end of the post may be employed to adjust the compression of spring 238.

The base IT! has bosses 2% and 246 having inclined forward faces to which are secured the cantilever leaf springs 24? and 2 213 by clamping plates 251 and bolts 252. A plate or carrier 253 has similarly inclined extensions 254 and 255 welded thereto and to which the opposite ends of springs 24! and 248 are secured by clamping plates 25B and bolts 25?. Plate 253 carries a conveyor trough I82 of any suitable construction secured thereto by bolts 258. The flexible Aiz. valve I spri sist e llil s s tablyl se ur d ato plate- 253': by; nuts Hi3 andyatuitsr oppo -tee ad ustab erto uplinsrmemb-e t A: threaded:- stud 26! passing: through 'a su table hole in bar I12" is held in place lock-nuts 2753;- and is' threaded! into-coupling: member-2E held in adjusted-position by locknutuitt I The operation; of, this-= modification. is imilar: to Y that described? in Figure.- 1. Grdinar lyi the sp gs x 1 and- MtQs-eth r Wit thet ouehave a fixed :or predetermined-period of vibrationrand. he fr qu cy or er o i ty: o vibration-10f the motor ma D dl Stcd*into S5Hlh1fli5mdlh$fl8 withbyadiustinanutfzfle Mov' KN W-4 nd we (Fi -'3) ez b po ompi sse's sp insaz fl a 11: thus increasesithe frequency "of vibration Oftthfi t W e adjustmen t l upward' 'rele ses th mnr ssir spring; 238% arch reduces t e frequency ofvibrationof the-inoter. The-amp e tude of vibration -of.-.the r-systemis: correspondingly varied.-- The couplingmemberw25 the motor to becoupledi-tothe: conveys without changing-thenatural frequency-- 4 the trough. or. conveyor. Thus, when thiscousplingis eifeoted, the frequency of the-entire tem and the amplitude ofvibration may-bemaried merelyby adjusting spring-r33.

y mployi th vrubbeli r s nthe ic; rubber: resilient memberstbetweenethesvalv phragm I anr. able to. obtain-a hig .eeree f resiliency; or stiffnessiin" acornpactrstructilrc Q: that .the apparatus-may vibrate.- ata; high quency. As exampleseofi suitable-r mater-i isthis p rposel may-me-n io natura rabb r; fin various synthetic-rubber.- materialsknowni under? the trade names Ameripol and Cogene, which I believe to be copolymers of butadiene and acrylonitrile or styrene or other unsaturated compounds, Neoprene, which I believe to be polymerized chlorinated butadiene, and Koroseal, which I believe to be a plasticized polyvinyl chloride.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departure from the spirit or essential characteristics of the disclosure herein. The specific form described herein therefore is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive of the invention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hydraulic motor of a single acting expansible chamber type, the combination of a pressure chamber closed by a movable member and having an inlet arranged to be connected to a liquid under pressure and an outlet for discharging liquid from the chamber, said chamber capable of expanding and contracting by the relative movement of the movable member, an operating valve arranged to control the flow of liquid through the outlet connection, a double acting cushion means connecting the movable member with the operating valve to actuate the latter, a sealed flexible envelope enclosing a gas and subjected to the pressure of the liquid in the chamber, said envelope being compressed to absorb the energy of the peak pressure developed upon the closing of the operating valve which energy is subsequently released to the liquid in the chamber to increase the stroke of the movable member and to prevent a rapid drop in pressure in the chamber immediately following the period of peak pressure.

2. In a hydraulic motor of a single acting expansible chamber type, the combination of a pressure chamber closed by a movable member and having an inlet arranged to be connected to a liquid under pressure and an outlet for discharging liquid irom the chamber, said chamber capable of expanding and contracting by the relative movement of the movable member, an operating valve arranged to control the flow of liquid through the outlet connection, a double acting cushion means connecting the movable member with the operating valve to actuate the latter, a plurality of flexible envelopes each enclosing a gas and subjected to the pressure of the liquid in the chamber, said envelopes being compressed to absorb the energy of the peak pressure developed upon the closing of the operating valve which energy is subsequently released to the liquid in the chamber to increase the stroke of the movable member and to prevent a rapid drop in pressure in the chamber immediately following the period of peak pressure.

3. In a hydraulic motor of a single acting expansible chamber type, the combination of a pressure chamber closed by a movable member and having an inlet arranged to be connected to a liquid under pressure and an outlet for discharging liquid from the chamber, said chamber capable of expanding and contracting by the relative movement of the movable member, an operating valve arranged to control the flow of liquid through the outlet connection, a double acting cushion means connecting the movable member with the operating valve to actuate the latter, a sealed flexible envelope mounted on the movable member and enclosing a gas, said envelope being subjected to the pressure of the liquid chamber, said envelope being compressed to absorb the energy of the peak pressure developed upon the closing of the operating valve which energy is subsequently released to the liquid in the chamber to increase the stroke of the movable member and to prevent a rapid drop in pressure in the chamber immediately following the period of peak pressure.

RALPH BURT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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